Simon Barrow points to Burma, Lonely Planet and the BBC today.

Your email to the BBC on this could make a difference!

Ekklesia reports here on a church in Bradford that are boycotting Total garages.

The Burmese generals ignore the west and it looks like those that can attempt to influence them (such as China) are reluctant to do so.

One way to make the generals think is to hit them in their financial pockets. Total is by far the biggest investor in Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi has asked for them to be boycotted. Total invests loads of money in Burma, money which the government uses to fund a massive army that has no enemies – an army there purely to keep the people ‘under control’.

Boycott Total garages and write to Total letting them know why you are doing so. Burma Campaign UK has a ‘dirty list’ – a list of companies that invest and fund this evil regime.

Dear friend

With a democracy uprising taking place in Burma, the most significant events in Burma in 20 years, you may have been wondering why you have not heard from the Burma Campaign UK.

We are a small organisation, and we have been working round the clock getting information out of Burma, briefing journalists, helping them get in to Burma, and doing media interviews. In the last 48 hours alone we have had almost 500 enquires from journalists in more than 20 countries.

Media are coming to us because we have excellent sources in the country, and can provide analysis of what is going on. The fact that we can do this is down to the financial support our supporters have given us to set up networks and build contacts.

Through the media we have been calling for international action, and governments are responding. We called on governments to warn the regime that a violent response is unacceptable. We have also been calling for stronger action by the British government. Today the British government has responded positively to our calls for action. Please read the Prime Minister’s statement here.
However, while they now agree there needs to be action, they have not yet taken any.

As you can imagine, as a small organisation we are overwhelmed with the number of media enquiries we are getting, but we believe that ensuring the world knows what is going on, and, through the media, pressuring the international community to act, must be our top priority. We will update our website and send email updates as often as possible.

We hope to be posting new actions on our website soon, asking to you to write to the British Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister.

We would like to ask for your financial support at this critical time. The current crisis is placing a strain on our resources, and we don’t want to be held back from providing maximum support at this critical time simply because of a lack of funds. Please visit our site to make a donation or call 020 7324 4714 to make a donation by credit card over the phone.

Our friends in Burma are hopeful that they could be nearing the end of their repression, but they also fear a brutal crackdown from the regime. International support is more important than ever.

Demonstrate in solidarity with the Burmese people

The Burmese Community in London are holding a demonstration outside the Burmese Embassy in London every day from 12-1pm.
Please show your support if you can.

Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
19 A CHARLES STREET
LONDON W1J 5DX

Nearest tube: Green Park

For campaigns and actions in other countries, please check here:

Thank you for your continued support.

Anna Roberts
The Burma Campaign UK

The monks were beaten with the back of rifles. Taxi drivers are transporting the injured to nearby medical facilities, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

You can read more here.

Again we see peaceful protest met with violence.
Innocent people asking for equality treated as enemies.
Why?
Clearly a peace loving Budhist monk or nun is a very dangerous person!

Now the UN Security Council decides to meet.
Why not during the last 20 years of oppression?
Why not during the last 2 months of unrest and abuses?
Why not during the last 9 days of peaceful protest under threat?

Why does it take injury and violence before they even get together to THINK about what their response will be?

I pray that this time protest will work, that this time justice will prevail and that, this time, the rightful ruler of this nation will take her place.